😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,456 in Mexico City versus $305 in Antsirabe.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $2,361 in Mexico City versus $496 in Antsirabe.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $3,266 in Mexico City versus $686 in Antsirabe.
🌍Living in Mexico City is roughly 377% more expensive than in Antsirabe, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊The two cities straddle the global median: Mexico City is 9% above, Antsirabe is 77% below.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.07MX$228
$1.01MGA 4,349
1194.06%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$53.8MX$936
$14.53MGA 62.4K
269.92%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$9.68MX$169
$4.51MGA 19.4K
114.63%
Cappuccino
$3.74MX$65.1
$1.32MGA 5,656
183.33%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.62MX$28.13
$0.85MGA 3,667
90.59%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.16MX$20.23
$0.58MGA 2,474
100.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$3.23MX$56.2
$1.53MGA 6,562
111.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.74MX$82.5
-
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.65MX$28.68
$0.38MGA 1,635
334.21%
White Bread(500g)
$2.75MX$47.95
$0.46MGA 1,953
497.83%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.87MX$32.63
$0.59MGA 2,524
216.95%
Eggs
$2.50MX$43.54
$0.84MGA 3,592
197.62%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.20MX$178
$7.82MGA 33.5K
30.43%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$8.25MX$144
$3.67MGA 15.8K
124.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$11.82MX$206
$3.95MGA 17.0K
199.24%
Apples(1kg)
$3.01MX$52.4
$0.70MGA 3,013
330.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.81MX$31.54
$0.28MGA 1,209
546.43%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.81
$0.65MGA 2,780
207.69%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.00MX$34.74
$0.32MGA 1,361
525.00%
Potato(1kg)
$2.08MX$36.30
$0.21MGA 897
890.48%
Onion(1kg)
$2.27MX$39.56
$0.46MGA 1,960
393.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.46MX$25.36
$0.09MGA 398
1522.22%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08MX$18.74
$0.45MGA 1,950
140.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.35MX$75.7
-
-
Wine(Bottle)
$16.99MX$296
$5.14MGA 22.1K
230.54%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.73MX$30.18
-
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.58MX$62.3
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39MX$6.74
$0.09MGA 392
333.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.69MX$325
-
-
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.33MX$23.08
-
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.28MX$4.87
-
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.25MX$91.5
-
-
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.34MX$23.27
-
-
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$19.4KMX$338.0K
-
-
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$23.8KMX$415.0K
-
-
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$40.69MX$709
$37.61MGA 161.4K
8.19%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$26.87MX$468
-
-
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$30.51MX$531
$62.8MGA 269.5K
-51.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$52.8MX$919
$16.34MGA 70.1K
223.01%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.65MX$464
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$6.51MX$113
-
-
🧸 Childcare & Education
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$428MX$7,454
-
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.5KMX$182.8K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3MX$997
-
-
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.50MX$792
-
-
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$104MX$1,812
-
-
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$108MX$1,878
-
-
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,003MX$17.5K
$67.9MGA 291.3K
1378.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$623MX$10.8K
$44.23MGA 189.8K
1307.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$2,109MX$36.7K
$218MGA 935.2K
867.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,218MX$21.2K
$158MGA 677.0K
671.89%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,885MX$67.6K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$2,033MX$35.4K
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Mexico City
Antsirabe
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,038MX$18.1K
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.34
0
-
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Mexico City: July 13, 2026
Last update for Antsirabe: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,003 in Mexico City and $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $54.0 in Mexico City vs $15.00 in Antsirabe for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $292 vs $95.0 per month, with Antsirabe cheaper across the board.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Mexico City vs Antsirabe: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Antsirabe cheaper than Mexico City?
Antsirabe is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 377% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $2,185 in Mexico City and $458 in Antsirabe to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Mexico City and Antsirabe?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,003 in Mexico City versus $67.9 in Antsirabe. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Mexico City and in Antsirabe?
Supermarket bills run roughly 208% higher in Mexico City. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Mexico City or in Antsirabe?
Dining out is cheaper in Antsirabe – a meal for two runs $15.00 versus $54.0 in Mexico City. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Mexico City or in Antsirabe?
At $305 in Antsirabe versus $1,456 in Mexico City, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Antsirabe but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Antsirabe the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Mexico City or Antsirabe more family-friendly?
For families, Antsirabe is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Mexico City, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Mexico City or Antsirabe?
Safety-wise, Mexico City and Antsirabe are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Antsirabe gentler on the wallet – expenses run 377% less than in Mexico City. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Mexico City vs other spots: cost of living compared